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VA Por t lan d
H ea l th Ca re
Sy s tem 37 1 0 SW U . S . V e te ran s H osp i ta l Rd .
Por t la nd , O R 97 2 3 9
503 -2 20 - 8262 | 800 - 949 -100 4
Produced by the VAPORHCS
Pub l i c A f fa i rs O f f i c e
QUEST IONS / COMMENTS ??
P lease emai l us at . . .
V HAP OR -P ub l i c Af f a i r s@ me d .va .gov
or c a l l 503 -402 -2975
For VAPORHCS Events and
Classes—got to the VAPORHCS
Web page…
www.portland.va.gov/calendar.asp
Inside this issue:
Director’s Message 1
2018 Memorial Day events
2
Veteran Listening Sessions
3
Imaging Services 4-5
Whole Health Peer to Peer
6
Choice Info 7-8
Chronic Pain Workshop
9
VetRide.net 10
VA Emergency Care
11
Camp Lejeune 12
Self Referrals 13
Veteran Connection
Keeping the Promise - Advancing Excellence
If you would like to be added to the VAPORHCS Partner email list, please email us at [email protected]
VA Portland Health Care System Newsletter
L in co ln ’ s P rom i se
(VA Mi s s io n
S ta te men t )
“ T o ca re f o r h im w h o
sh a l l h av e b o rn e t h e
b a t t l e , an d f o r h is
w id o w , an d h i s
o rp h an ” b y se rv in g
an d h o n o r in g t h e m en
an d w o m en w h o a r e
Am e r ic a ’ s Ve t e r an s .
Volume , Issue Spring 2018
I have great news to
share about some new
services now available
in our health care
system.
• In February, VAPORHCS Nutrition &
Food Services (NFS) started full room
service for inpatient Veterans in Portland,
similar to the service already in place at
our Vancouver campus. We transitioned
from a prepare-in-advance “cook-chill”
system to preparing all meals fresh by our
culinary team and delivered directly to
the Veterans.
• In May, our new Positron Emission
Tomography - Computed Tomography
(PET/CT) scanner became operational at
PVAMC! With this nuclear medicine
technology, our providers are able to
diagnose and determine the severity of
and treat a variety of diseases, including
many types of cancers, heart disease,
gastrointestinal, endocrine, neurological
disorders and other abnormalities within
the body; this technology offers the
potential to identify disease in its earliest
stages as well as a patient’s immediate
response to therapeutic interventions.
• On May15, I was proud and honored
to host a ribbon-cutting event to celebrate
the opening of the new VAPORHCS
Vancouver Outpatient Imaging Center
(VOICE). This project is a direct result of
feedback from our Veterans requesting
easier access to imaging services. This
temporary ambulatory outpatient imaging
center provides computed tomography
(CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI),
ultrasound, and fluoroscopy for the first
time on our Vancouver campus. We are
still planning to build a larger complex in
the same vicinity that will include
additional services and capacity. We
expect that new facility to be open in the
next two to three years or so.
Thank you to all the Veterans and family
members who were able to participate in
the Veteran Listening Sessions I have co-
hosted with Portland Regional Benefits
Office Director the past few months in
Newport, Astoria and Redmond. These
events allow the opportunity for me and
my counterpart at VBA to meet and speak
one-on-one with Veterans and family
members about their ideas, issues and
concerns. This helps tremendously in our
ability to understand the unique challenges
Veterans face in the many different
communities we serve across the region.
I, in partnership with the Portland
Regional Benefits Office Director, am
scheduled to hold additional Veteran
Listening Sessions / Community Meetings
in The Dalles on June 14, in Albany on
August 11, Portland on September 11, and
in Lincoln City on September 29. The
details are in this newsletter. At each of
these events, both VAPORHCS and VBA
staff from a wide variety of different service
areas will attend to share information that
many Veterans may find very helpful. I
plan to continue to host these events and I
look forward to meeting and hearing from
the Veterans we serve.
Thank you for your service and for letting
us serve you.
Michael Fisher
Message from the Director Michael W. Fisher
Director, VA Portland
Health Care System
2
Veteran Connection Page 2
Memorial
Day
events in
your area
-VAPORHCS-
Willamette National Cemetery hosts 68th Memorial Day ceremony May 28, 2018. Patriotic music, flag displays, a rifle salute and fly-over will all be part of the 2018 Memorial Day Program at Willamette National Cemetery on May 28 at
10 a.m.
Oregon 2018 Statewide Memorial Day Events (Hyperlink)
Washington 2018 Statewide Memorial Day Events (Hyperlink)
3
Veteran Connection Page 3
-VAPORHCS-
WHAT? VAPORHCS and Portland Regional Benefits Office Directors are hosting Veteran listening
sessions/community meetings to hear from Veterans about issues, concerns and ideas so we can work
on improving the care and services we provide to the Veterans in the community. VBA will have claims
specialists to meet/speak with Veterans about their claims and VAPORHCS will have staff from several
services to share information about community care, Choice, enrollment, and many other topics.
FOR WHO? Veterans, family members and media representatives are invited.
The Dalles June 14, 2018; 12:00 – 1:30 p.m. (Please share via the web or Facebook)
The Dalles Oregon Veterans Home, 700 Veterans Dr, The Dalles, OR 97058
Albany August 11, 2018; 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. (More details to come)
Vets Helping Vets HQ Annual Picnic, Monteith Riverpark,
NW Water Ave, Albany, OR 97321
(This non-VA event is free and open to all Veterans and their families)
Portland September 11, 2018; 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Portland Veterans Stand Down
Veterans Memorial Coliseum, 300 N Winning Way, Portland, OR 97227
(This non-VA event is free and open to all Veterans
focusing on homeless and at-risk of being homeless)
Lincoln City September 29, 2018; 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. (More details to come)
Chinook Winds Casino annual Celebration of Honor event;
777 NW 44th St, Lincoln City, OR 97367
(This non-VA event is free and open to all Veterans and their families)
VA Veteran Listening Sessions/Community Meetings in
The Dalles, Albany, Portland and Lincoln City
4
Veteran Connection Page 4
New imaging services
open on Vancouver
campus
T he Vancouver Outpatient Imaging
Center (VOICE) celebrated with a
ribbon-cutting and open house event on
May 15 on the VAPORHCS Vancouver
campus. This new facility that opened
for service earlier this month is a direct
result of feedback from our Veterans
requesting easier access to imaging
services. This temporary ambulatory
outpatient imaging center provides
computed tomography (CT), magnetic
resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasound,
and fluoroscopy for the first time on our
Vancouver campus. Planning continues
to build a larger complex in the same
vicinity that will include additional
services and capacity.
VAPORHCS leadership, Imaging Service, and other support staff who were instrumental in making the new Vancouver Outpatient Imaging Center (VOICE) a reality celebrated with a ribbon-cutting and open house event on May 15 on the VAPORHCS Vancouver campus.
This is the Veteran comment from 2014
that was the inspiration for the new
Vancouver Outpatient Imaging Center
(VOICE). It reads,
"My Concern is: Coming all the way to
Portland for ultrasound, CT scan, or MRI
imaging.“
“My idea to improve is: I know it's not
cheap, but there is a need for these ser-
vices @ Vancouver Campus."
See more on Facebook!!
5
Veteran Connection Page 5
New imaging technology at Portland VA Medical Center
V APORHCS Imaging
Services has a new
Positron Emission
Tomography - Computed
Tomography scanner at
PVAMC.
The PET/CT scanner was
delivered in March and is
now fully operational
providing the very latest
digital imaging technology
for our Veterans.
PET imaging is a type of
nuclear medicine imaging.
PET uses small amounts
of radioactive materials
called radiotracers, a
special camera and a
computer to help evaluate
organ and tissue functions.
By identifying body
changes at the cellular
level, PET may detect the early onset of disease before it is
evident on other imaging tests. By using these small amounts of
radioactive material our doctors at VAPORHCS can diagnose
and determine the severity of and treat a variety of diseases,
including many types of cancers, heart disease, gastrointestinal,
endocrine, neurological disorders and other abnormalities
within the body. Because nuclear medicine procedures are
able to pinpoint molecular activity within the body, they offer
the potential to identify disease in its earliest stages as well as a
patient’s immediate response to therapeutic interventions.
Nuclear medicine imaging procedures are noninvasive and
usually painless medical tests that help physicians diagnose and
evaluate medical conditions.
VAPORHCS Imaging Services Chief Technologist Laura Hatfield (Navy, '79-'92) and Ron Boucher (Navy,
'83-2011), MD, Chief of Radiology, pose in front of a new Positron Emission Tomography - Computed
Tomography scanner at PVAMC.
The new VA Portland’s new Positron Emission Tomography -
Computed Tomography (PET/CT) digital scanner being
delivered in March 2018. -VAPORHCS-
6
-VAPORHCS-
Veteran Connection Page 6
Whole Health Peer to Peer Veterans helping Veterans set and achieve S.M.A.R.T
goals for improved health and wellbeing
(Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Time Bound)
Weekly drop-in group open to all Veterans
Contact Brian:
(503) 220-8262 ext. 56106
Whole Health
Whole Health recognizes
you as a whole person.
Whole Health goes beyond
your illnesses, injuries, or
disabilities. It focuses on
health and wellbeing and
includes self-care and
complementary therapies
(such as Tai Chi and Yoga),
along with your medical
care. In Whole Health care,
you are a more active
partner with your health care
team.
Vancouver campus Bldg. 20, Rm. 104,
Mondays 10 - 11 a.m.
Portland VA Medical Center Bldg100 Rm. 1C196J
Fridays 10- 11a.m.
7
Veteran Connection Page 7
-VAPORHCS-
VHA Office of Community Care Veterans Choice Program (VCP) VAPORHCS Fact Sheet
Veterans Choice Program: • Veterans are eligible when the VA cannot provide the care within 30 days, the VA does not
provide the service, or the Veteran lives greater than 40 miles from a qualifying VA facility.
• TriWest (1-866-606-8198) is the Choice Program third party administrator for the Portland
VA (click this link for an on - line “Check Your Eligibility” tool).
Process: • When scheduling a VA appointment, if one of the above eligibility criteria is met, the VA
scheduler will ask you if you want to “opt in” or “opt out” of using the Choice Program.
• If you “opt in”, you will be able to get your care in the community through Veterans Choice.
Portland Community Care Office will send eligibility verification (Form 10-0386) along with
your medical records to TriWest.
Portland Community Care Office will send you a Choice Packet with information to assist
you through this process.
TriWest will call you to schedule an appointment. If they do not call by the time you
receive the Choice Packet from the VA please call TriWest at 1-866-606-8198.
If TriWest tells you they don’t have your eligibility information or records, please call.
Portland VA Office of Community Care at 360-759-1674 for assistance moving forward
If you “opt out” of Choice, you will keep your VA appointment.
Billing: • Outside providers should not bill the VA or you for your Choice Care. If you are billed by an
outside provider for services that were authorized through the Veterans Choice Program,
please contact the billing department of the provider that billed you and ask them to bill
TriWest for the services provided. If you have questions related to billing from the Choice
Program, please contact TriWest at (1-855-722-2838, option 3, 3).
• Please call Portland VA Office of Community Care (360-759-1674) if you have questions
related to Veterans Choice/Tri West.
(continued on next page)
8
Veteran Connection Page 8
-VAPORHCS-
Veterans Choice Program (VCP) Fact Sheet (continued)
How To Get Your Medications: • Tri West provider should write your prescriptions using the VA FORMULARY.
• Tri West Provider should fax your prescription along with the Choice Program to VA
Pharmacy at (360) 905-1767
• VA Pharmacy will mail prescription to you within 14 days.
Urgent Medications: • If you need an URGENT medication, please do one of the following:
• Present prescription to VA Pharmacy: Portland VA or Vancouver VA
• You may go to local pharmacy and have filled at your own expense (no VA reimbursement)
• Contact Nurse Care Manager in Community Care Department listed on your Choice letter for
voucher (10 day worth of prescription only) if urgent/emergent.
• Please do not fax or mail any urgent prescription requests
Scheduled Medications: Federal law requires an ink signed hard copy prior to dispensing this class of medication,
Pharmacy may NOT accept faxed prescriptions for schedule II medications.
A signed hard copy can be mailed to:
VA Portland Health Care System, V-2-pharm,
3710 SW U.S. Veterans Hospital Road, Portland, OR 97207
Prosthetics / Durable Medical Equipment (DME): All DME must be provided by the VA. It may be dispensed from a vendor, but they must have
authorization from the VA prior to dispensing it. Please call your community care nurse case
manager for any questions or issues related to DME.
Travel Pay: Proof of attendance may be provided either by a memorandum from the clinic on their official
letterhead, or by having them complete the form below. Complete the VA Travel Claim form (VA
- 10-3542) and attach the proof of attendance. Submit both documents to:
VA Portland Health Care System, ATTN: P4-ENRO,
3710 SW U.S. Veterans Hospital Road,
Portland, OR 97239
9
Veteran Connection Page 9
Managing Chronic Pain and
Suffering: A Resource Workshop
When: June 12 – 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Where: PVAMC, Building 101, Room 201
Do you live with chronic pain? Join us to hear about the
many resources available at Portland VA to help you man-
age chronic pain and increase your quality of life.
Presenters will include experts in:
You will learn about multiple evidence-based approaches to
reduce your pain-related distress and will leave with a plan
Pain Medicine Medications Complementary Medicine
CBT for Chronic
Pain
Nutrition Movement Therapies
Sleep Yoga/Tai Chi Stress Management
For more information or to sign
up, call Dr. Timothy Wright
At 503-220-8262 Ext. 55612 Program offered by NW Pain Clinic
Please share
on Facebook
-VAPORHCS-
10
Veteran Connection Page 10
-VAPORHCS-
Vetride.net — the new VA Travel Portal • To facilitate safe and reliable transportation within 20 miles of Portland VA
Medical Center via your smart phone or computer
What is VetRide.net ? VetRide is a web platform created to manage Veteran's trip requests to and from VA
healthcare facilities. The platform allows Veterans to register for VetRide services, request a
ride and receive notifications about status of their rides. This mobile-friendly platform enables
Veterans to operate their account from their desktop as well as smart devices.
Who can use the VetRide.net ? Veterans who are eligible for VA health care benefits and have a VA-authorized appointment
are automatically eligible for transportation through the Veteran Transportation Services
(VTS) program. Requirements are:
You must be a veteran
Enrolled in VA health care
Reservations must be made one day in advance
A veteran may be accompanied by one caregiver, spouse
or family member
Why use VetRide.net ? Vetride speeds up the process of requesting and confirming transportation. Veterans can see
all of their past and future appointments from the convenience of their computer or smart
phone. Passengers receive alerts via phone message or text when their driver is 10 minutes
away from picking them up and when they will be picked up from the VA facility for their ride
back home. VAPORHCS Veterans Transportation Service (VTS web page)
11
Veteran Connection Page 11
-VAPORHCS-
VA Emergency Care
The VHA Office of Community Care (OCC) has updated communications products that ex-
plain when a Veteran should seek emergency medical care, and how VA can pay for a Vet-
eran's service-connected and non-service connected emergency care from a community
provider.
The following web resources are now available on this topic:
Video - Emergency Medical Care
Fact Sheet - Emergency Medical Care
Fact Sheet - Emergency Transportation (Ambulance)
Website - Emergency Care
Please help us raise awareness and understanding of when Veterans should seek emer-gency medical care, including the associated eligibility requirements and payment aspects. This will support greater consistency and better outcomes for Veterans.
12
Veteran Connection Page 12
-VAPORHCS-
13
Veteran Connection Page 13
-VAPORHCS-
Self Referral now offered for Podiatry, Nutrition
Services, and Amputee/Wheelchair Clinics
Podiatry, Nutrition Services, and Amputee/Wheelchair clinics can all now see patients by Self
-Referral, meaning they do not need a consult placed to be able to see a provider in one of
these areas. In the community, depending on a person’s insurance they may or may not need
a referral to see a specialist. This option reduces the number of times a Veteran has to
physically travel to a clinic since they do not need to see their PCP first and it gives them the
ability to seek the care they need at the time they need it, with the goal of improving Veteran
satisfaction and their health.
What are the changes
Why is it important for our Veterans?
How to contact or direct dial
number
Podiatry – does the Veteran have new foot pain or
open wounds on feet? They can call the Specialty
Call Center and be referred directly to the Podia-
try service for scheduling. The Veteran no longer
needs to go through their PCP to have a consult en-
tered.
Nutrition Services – If a Veteran would like to see
a dietitian, they can call the NFS direct dial number
to be scheduled. The Veteran no longer needs to go
through their PCP or Specialist to have a consult en-
tered.
Amputee clinic – for our Veterans who are missing
a body part, they can call or come by the clinic to
be scheduled. No consult needed.
Wheelchair clinic – for Veterans in need of a
wheelchair, power wheelchair/scooter they can call
or come by the clinic to be scheduled. No consult
needed.
Podiatry – through the Specialty Call
Center, (503) 220-8262 ext. 50820
Nutrition Services – (503) 273-5112
Amputee & Wheelchair clinics –
(503) 273-5018